Selected Sunday Scriptures- #157

Today’s mix is all over the place. A fitting thing, given my thoughts have been that way lately. We begin with a Psalm:

I cry with my voice to the Lord,
    with my voice I make supplication to the Lord,
² I pour out my complaint before him,
    I tell my trouble before him.
³ When my spirit is faint,
    thou knowest my way!

In the path where I walk
    they have hidden a trap for me.
⁴ I look to the right and watch,
    but there is none who takes notice of me;
no refuge remains to me,
    no man cares for me.

⁵ I cry to thee, O Lord;
    I say, Thou art my refuge,
    my portion in the land of the living.
⁶ Give heed to my cry;
    for I am brought very low!

Deliver me from my persecutors;
for they are too strong for me!
⁷ Bring me out of prison,
that I may give thanks to thy name!
The righteous will surround me;
for thou wilt deal bountifully with me.

(Psalm 142)

As is often the case, David is someone I can relate to. I have been struggling against a feeling of hopelessness for a long time now, and I don’t see it going away. But at the same time I am resisting giving in to it. Whatever his faults, and they were many, David was someone who never gave in to that despair in a final way. Neither did other suffering figures, such as Joseph, who I would argue had it worse. So whatever else, I resolve to do the same.

The following was the Gospel message today in my Eastern Rite parish:

³⁵ As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging; ³⁶ and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant. ³⁷ They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” ³⁸ And he cried, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” ³⁹ And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” ⁴⁰ And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, ⁴¹ “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me receive my sight.” ⁴² And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” ⁴³ And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

(Luke 18:35-43)

What really grabbed my attention with this reading today was the blind man’s reaction after gaining his sight- he glorified God. This is something we can take for granted, God’s favor. All too often we are showered with graces and we never even give it a second thought. How often do we stop to thank God for all he has given us? I know I have been particularly bad about this. Maybe this new year is a chance for me to be better.